Modern and innovative
Ventspils is a small city with a modern port, innovative factories and beaches. In terms of economy, the main sectors are transport and communication, wholesale, retail, motor vehicle repair, manufacturing and tourism.
Vision and Strategy
Ventspils promotes inclusive learning in the local education system. As a member of the UNESCO GNLC, it hopes to engage in peer learning with other member cities through cooperation and collaboration. Moreover, it interested in sharing with GNLC members the NextGen Microcities project, which addresses issues related to brain drain, reskilling, job creation and ways to attract more students to the city.
Policies, Plan and Implementation
Sustainability and health
- Ventspils’ development programme for 2021–2027 promotes healthy lifestyles, social responsibility and public participation. Its environmental education initiatives promote ‘green thinking’ and activities related to healthy and nature-friendly lifestyles.
Equity and inclusion
- One of the city’s strategic goals is to ensure inclusive and supportive learning opportunities based on individual and differentiated approaches. The Business Support Centre offers ICT trainings to tackle the digital divide, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences offers professional higher education programmes with flexible study paths to individuals who are working, creating retraining opportunities.
Decent work and entrepreneurship
- To ensure educational programmes match the needs of contemporary market demand, the city focuses on learning opportunities related to the ICT industry. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is an internationally recognized centre of higher education in sciences, and Ventspils Vocational Technical School supports professional education.
Good practices
NextGen Microcities project
- As part of the NextGen Microcities project, Ventspils is promoting global and digital potential through career development support, talent scouting, intergenerational marketing in educational institutions, innovative educational technologies and the championing of twenty-first century skills.
Ventspils Science and Innovation Centre (VIZIUM)
- VIZIUM will be open for visitors in summer 2022 and will feature more than 80 unique interactive exhibits centred on physics, chemistry, geography, mathematics and other fields of natural sciences.
ICT in education
- A programme for the acquisition of computer skills was implemented in 2015 and aims to stimulate interest in information and communication technologies among students. In this context, Ventspils Digital Centre develops education classes in four main areas: 3D technologies, games development, digital housekeeping and virtual reality.
‘Learning is available to every inhabitant in Ventspils: modern schools and variety of cost-free groups for children, a technical school and university for youth and lifelong learning programmes for adults.’
Mr Janis Vitolins
Mayor
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